Fin

I've been home for a little over a week now.  Every single day I have had someone to see or something to do.  But at this moment, there is nothing that needs my immediate attention.  Well, except this blog post.  As with the last one, I've been avoiding it.  I've been dreading it.  I've been wishing it was already written for me.  The truth is, I just don't know how to end this account of my amazing eight month journey.  I don't even know where to begin.  To quote Julie Andrews, "let's start at the very beginning...a very good place to start."  (You know you just sang that in your head as you were reading.)  

That moment of panic or awe, depending on how you look at it, didn't strike me until I had already been overseas for a few weeks.  In the days leading up to my departure, I was calm.  It was as if it wasn't real, it wasn't really going to happen.  And then it did happen.  Sure, I had been nervous about making friends and speaking Spanish.  But living in a foreign country never struck me as all that extraordinary or weird.  Weird is a word I use a lot.  I probably use it more than I should.  But sometimes, it's just the best word.  Now that I'm at the end, looking back on the beginning, I realize how unique my circumstances were...how unique my experience in Spain will always be.  It's weird:  I'm a homebody.  I can be shy.  I like America.  And yet, I propelled myself into this new environment where being a homebody, being shy, and liking America were not to my advantage.  As luck or fate would have it, everything fell right into place.  I had a seamless transition.  I felt at home.  However, homesickness is inevitable.  I had my fair share of bad days.  But along with those moments of wanting to go home or wanting Cinnamon Toast Crunch or macaroni and cheese, I had an abundance of perfect days...sublime, energizing, full-of-life days that washed away all of the doubt.  When you are in the middle of a day like that, when I was sitting in the Plaza with friends or walking along the river, that is when the moment of panic and awe strikes.  That moment passes as quickly and unexpectedly as it comes but it is there.  It is a sense of relief, accomplishment, happiness, and anxiety.  The anxiety comes from the little time-keeper in your soul telling you that eventually your time will end.  And it does...in the blink of an eye, it's over.  

I have said countless times how different my two semesters were.  They are almost incomparable.  Most of the distinction has to do with the two groups of people.  I think that you meet the people you need to meet when you need to meet them where you need to meet them.  Life has a funny way of arranging that.  Without exaggerating at all, I can say that I met some of my best friends in Spain.  I know that there are some people that I will fall out of touch with, and that scares me.  But sharing an experience like this brings people from all over the world together.  No matter what state you live in, no matter what your beliefs are, something drove all of us to the same place:  a small Renaissance city in Spain.  We all ended up there at the same time.  I don't really want to talk about any friendships in particular...I don't know if I could make it through that without tearing up a little bit.  To say the least, I have never felt more grateful to have become acquainted with a group of people.  They will forever be my lifeline back to Spain, even if I'm 4000 miles away. 

Now that I'm back home, I have taken care of a few firsts:  First trip to Walmart for groceries, first trip back to Iowa to visit family, first Ollie's of the season, first haircut to get rid of the damage five months of traveling causes, first slow pitch softball game.  I think it is going to be harder for me to adjust to being back home than it was to adjust to living in Spain.  Honestly.  I am shocked at the kindness and courtesy that people display.  I'm sure you're thinking to yourself, "Are you kidding me?!  People standing in the middle of the aisles at Walmart, constantly gabbing on their cell phones, bad drivers, less than great customer service..."  Well, I am sad to say that I have never seen rudeness taken to the level of Olympic sport quite in the way that it is in Spain.  The constant staring, waiting for the check for over half an hour, bumping into people without so much as a "perdona."  It can be infuriating but you get used to it.  I would like to share an anecdote with you.  Last Thursday, I was up at 4:00 am.  Thank you, jet lag.  Dad and I decided that we should just go to Walmart since there would be no crowds and we needed groceries.  We were moseying down the completely empty aisles when we reached the beauty section of the store.  I needed things like shampoo and a loofah.  We turned into an aisle and there was a young woman standing right in the middle with her cart, comparing brands of conditioner.  She saw us and immediately said, "Oh I'm so sorry.  Let me get out of the way."  And I just smiled, because in the eight months I lived in Salamanca and traveled around Europe, never once did someone say that to me.  I am not joking.  It wasn't just the woman in the aisle at Walmart.  Store employees constantly ask me how I am, if they can help me find something, if I would like a free cookie.  Why yes, I would, thank you.  

Putting all laughs aside, being home feels good.  But right now I have an uneasy feeling running through my body, causing goosebumps on my skin and churning in my stomach.  I don't quite know the words to say.  I feel like there are so many things I've left out.  I just don't know how to write them.  I have been struggling with verbal tenses in this entire blog post. Past tense or present?  Is it really over?  Or am I still connected to it?  That goes to show I've taken more Spanish grammar classes than is good for me.  Now I constantly second guess my English grammar.  And you know something?  It kind of sucks.  I want to end this blog on a happy note and with the truth.  I am in utter shock that this experience is over.  With tears welling up in my eyes and a smile on my face, I know that it was everything I hoped for.  The lifetime of experiences I lived in those eight months will always be with me.  Se acabó.            

   

So Long Salamanca

I have been avoiding writing this specific post for a few days now.  I've been saying to myself things like:  "I really should get this suitcase unpacked."  "I need to go to the store."  "I don't know how to write this."  Well, I think that I've put it off long enough.  The truth is, driving away from Salamanca on Tuesday was an awful feeling.  I hadn't let a tear fall up to that moment, but when I saw the beautiful skyline slipping away, I couldn't hold it in any longer.  Mom and Dad got to see all of the beauty of Salamanca...everything I had fallen in love with.  I think they fell in love with it too.  We spent a lot of time just sitting in the Plaza Mayor sipping coffee.  We talked about everything this experience has meant to me.  We talked about how it's over.  And we talked about coming home.  My folks were able to meet my host family and my program's director.  We sat talking for hours and hours and it could not have been better.  My one condition for our entire trip was that we end in Salamanca.  That city will always be home...in the same way that DeKalb and Ventura feel like home.  I know that I will go back there someday.  I don't quite know what else to say.  I could talk for hours about my city but writing it down is difficult.  There is so much feeling associated with that place...I loved, laughed, and lived as much as possible.  I'll write another post in a few days time...after the realization that I'm actually home and not going back sinks in, after I have a grip on how I actually feel, after just a little more time.  Thank you all for walking with me through this incredible journey. 

      

Granada 2.0

Between Valencia and Granada, we met people from all over the United States.  The most common statement was, "Hey!  I hear English!"  That's not all that common over here.  I love hearing their stories.  We met two elderly gal pals who had been traveling around Spain for a couple of weeks, a guy who had just finished a semester abroad in Granada, and a couple from Oklahoma backpacking around the country.  You don't realize how great it feels to hear English when you're surrounded by Spanish speakers all the time.  I know that for my folks it has been a little difficult not knowing what is being said as it is being said.  That's how I felt when I first arrived here in September.  But now I'm really proud of how much I understand.  Even though the travel days are long, I love being able to sit in a comfortable train and stare out the window.  It's relaxing.  The train ride through the Sierra Nevada was absolutely stunning.  The silhouettes of faces in the mountainside guided us throughout the seven hour journey.  As we prepared to exit the train, Dad and I got into a lively conversation about food, sangria, and bull fights with some talkative Spaniards.  On our part, I translated as Dad tried to describe how much he loves espresso.  On their part, they talked about their nephews who had studied in England and how little English they knew themselves.  We got settled into our hotel room and called it an early night, knowing that the next day would be a full one.  Yesterday was, in my parents' words, indescribable.  We spent the morning at the Alhambra and attended an eye-opening flamenco performance late last night.  Mom was in awe at the carved plaster arches in the red fortress of this city named for pomegranates.  It left both of my folks speechless.  It truly is breathtaking.  Dad is still talking about the flamenco show:  "How can their feet move that fast?!"  I'm so happy that they were able to see that.  It is truly a uniquely Spanish experience.  We returned to the hotel at 12:30 am this morning exhausted but happy.  Today is going to be a relatively lazy day in Granada.  The three of us are going to do a little bit of souvenir shopping and then go to an Arabic bathhouse for massages late this afternoon.  I think it will be a relaxing end to this stop on our journey.  Tomorrow is our longest travel day yet but our time in Salamanca will be care free and laid back.  I just sent Angelita an email letting her know that I'd be stopping by tomorrow night to pick up the last of my things.  My folks and I will probably stop by the house sometime on Monday for coffee and my all time favorite Spanish dessert, bollo.  I just can't believe I'll be back there tomorrow.  It will be strange to walk through those streets with my folks but I'm so happy to share my home for the past eight months with them.  Salamanca is enchanting and as much as they've loved everywhere we've been, I hope they like my city the best.  Hasta la próxima.      

Valencia

We are leaving Valencia this morning.  We had two full days here and they flew by.  I think that is how the rest of our trip is going to go.  I'll finally be home in one week.  For each of the next two cities we'll be visiting, we'll have almost as many travel days as we do visiting days.  I don't mind the long train rides but it's always a workout getting all of our luggage to the platform and into a taxi.  Our next stop is Granada and then, weird as it will be, my folks and I will be back in Salamanca.  Valencia has been great.  If I've ever visited a contradictory city, this has been it.  Our hotel was in the historical center of the old city.  But we spent our whole first day at the way-ahead-of-its-times City of the Arts and Sciences.  The buildings that formed part of this complex looked like something out of Star Trek.  Within the complex, there is a concert hall, an IMAX theater, a science museum, and an aquarium.  Pretty nifty, right?  Dad had fun playing with the interactive exhibits in the museum and Mom got some great pictures during the dolphin show.  And to top it all off, we had paella for dinner.  Yum!  Yesterday we spent time in the old city center visiting the cathedral and a few other important sites.  But the highlight of the day and a perfect way to exit this city was going to the beach.  As someone who just a few months ago had never been to a beach, swimming in the Mediterranean was pretty dang cool.  The water was so clear and so blue.  It was absolutely stunning.  Without even asking my folks, I think it's safe to say that we're all very tired.  Valencia was a pretty laid back stop and our visit to Salamanca will definitely be relaxed.  I'm looking forward to going back to Granada but I'm looking even more forward to being home.  Traveling, while enjoyable, is exhausting.  And I haven't been home in almost five months.  Our trip has gone smoothly so far and once we're in Salamanca, I think I can stop being such a worry-wart.  Sorry for the lack of pictures.  I'll post them on Facebook as soon as I'm home.  Hasta pronto.  Os quiero.         

Round Two

I think my parents and I have used just about every possible means of transportation since arriving in Spain.  As our time in Barcelona comes to an end, we have traveled via plane, bus, taxi, metro, train, high speed train, boat, funicular, cable car...and feet.  We are off to Valencia this morning.  I'm really excited because it's the one place on our itinerary that I haven't visited before.  Of course that makes me a little nervous too.  If it didn't, well, I wouldn't be me.  But before I get too ahead of myself, let me recap Barcelona for you all.  We had three full days in what has become one of my favorite European cities.  It's big, like Chicago.  And it is absolutely beautiful, just like Chicago too.  Everywhere you look there are elaborate buildings, vibrant colors, and fragrant blooms.  When we arrived in the train station from Madrid, we purchased our train tickets for the next journey:  Barcelona to Valencia. After that was taken care off, we set off adventure-ing.  Number one on the must-see list was La Sagrada Familia.  I think it's safe to say that Mom and Dad were speechless when we walked in.  It is a cathedral, but nothing like you could ever even imagine.  The outer facade looks like melted wax and honeycomb structures combined with futuristic, sci-fi figures.  The inside provides a stark contrast with its crisp white walls and columns, lit by the rays of sunlight coming through the stained-glass windows.  In the afternoon, we trekked up to Park Guell.  It is one of the highest points in the city and is full of Gaudi's mosaic masterpieces.  You can see all the way to the Mediterranean from the hill with three crosses on top.  It is breathtaking to stand up there.  On our second full day, we tackled the main thoroughfare of Barcelona:  La Rambla.  There were thousands upon thousands of people strolling down this historic pedestrian street.  It was so different than when I was there in January.  We reached the port at the end of the Rambla and decided to take a coastal boat cruise.  It was a great end to the day.  For me personally, my favorite day was yesterday, our last day.  We made our way up to Montjuic, a large area in Southern Barcelona full of parks, walking paths, and beautiful views.  We took the metro, the mountainside funicular, and cable car to reach the top.  My folks and I spent the entire day up on that hill.  I was so happy to be there because Julia and I didn't have time to visit this neighborhood when we were in Barcelona in late January.  The highlight of the day was seeing the Magic Fountain...at least for me anyway.  I think Mom and Dad liked it too.  We had to wait quite a while for the sun to go down, so we ate sandwiches on the steps leading down to the fountain.  And then...the magic began.  People came out of nowhere to watch this spectacle.  It was so beautiful.  As we walked home, we could hear fireworks being set off...surely from Camp Nou to celebrate FC Barcelona's victory in the King's Cup.  All in all, I think my folks enjoyed Barcelona as much as I did the first time I saw it.  I am so happy that I had the chance to visit again.  On to Valencia!   

And they're off!

Because we have to pay for the internet in most of the hotels, I will be writing the next few blog posts in Microsoft Word instead of on Google Blogger.  I’ll publish them when I get a chance, so bear with me if they’re a bit delayed.  We’ll be home soon!     

First Stop

With happy hearts and tired feet, my folks are dozing off in our Madrid hotel.  Outside our window I can hear the shouts of protestors, the hum of helicopter wings, and a slight wind rustling the leaves.  We are taking a well-deserved rest from almost five days of full-blown tourism.  We have seen all of the major sights in Madrid and yesterday we even took a day trip to Segovia.  I think I’ve tuckered them out.  This was my third time visiting Madrid and my third time visiting Segovia.  Despite that, I’ve never had this much time in either place.  Mom and Dad saw all of the things it would be shameful to miss in the capital city of Spain:  Museo Nacional del Prado, Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Palacio Real, and Plaza del Oriente.  But we discovered some new places together as well:  Jardines de Sabatini, Parque de Buen Retiro, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Mercado de San Miguel, and El Rastro flea market.  We spent a chilly but beautiful day in the fairytale town of Segovia, northwest of Madrid.  That place is one of my favorites in Spain and I’m so happy that I was able to share it with my folks.  Aside from being caught in a brief hailstorm in the middle of Puerta del Sol and the cold winds in the mountainous region of Segovia, we’ve had wonderful weather.  I’m always thinking about finding a reasonably-priced restaurant that serves food Dad will try.  I’m always looking behind me, making sure that I haven’t gotten too far ahead of Mom as she snaps a picture.  I’m always reminding myself to just relax.  As I sit in our hotel room, resting my exhausted body, I am thinking about our next stop:  Barcelona.  Who knows what adventures await us there.  Just like in Madrid and Segovia, there will be places that my folks will have to see and that I’ll want to see again.  But I’m excited to visit the places I didn’t have time for when I was there in January.  January.  That seems like a lifetime ago.  As my year abroad comes to an end, this Spanish adventure with my parents is just beginning.  I’m sure it will be full of jokes about how many miles I’ve made them walk, but I know it will be full of amazing memories too.                    

D-Day

Día de Despedida.  Dramatic Day.  Day of I-Can't-Possibly-Say-Goodbye-To-You Feelings.  Au revoir.  Adéu.  Adiós.  Adieu.  Aloha.  Hasta siempre.  Nos veremos pronto.  So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, goodbye.  Well, there haven't been any waterworks...yet.  My first thought this morning as I rolled out of bed was, "I have to say goodbye to a lot of people today."  I have to say goodbye to the best professor I've ever had.  I have to say goodbye to the best friend I've made here.  I have to say goodbye to the person I was when I first arrived in Salamanca.  That seems like a century ago.  Tomorrow, all of my friends will be leaving Salamanca before the sun rises and I will be waiting to catch my bus to the airport at 11:00 am.  From there, my folks and I will begin our Spanish adventure.  I still can't believe that they are going to be here with me.  It is absolutely surreal.  As I wrote earlier, I will try to post some blog updates while I'm traveling with my parents.  Otherwise, we'll be home on June 6th...which actually is D-Day.  The thing is, I just can't quite say goodbye to Salamanca yet.  So I'll write a much more thoughtful and heart-wrenching post when I actually have to do that.  For now, I'm just in utter shock that my study abroad experience is ending.  That thought leaves me speechless.  Saying goodbye is easier knowing that I will see some of these people again...we'll make it happen.  I'll see the girls from Chicago.  And Julia and I have already made a pact to see another Cirque du Soleil performance together some day.  Road trip to Las Vegas, anyone?  But that isn't the case with all of the friends I've made here.  If I'm being honest, I won't say goodbye to some of them.  There is sort of an unspoken understanding that even if we don't see each other one last time today, at least we have all of these amazing memories to look back on.  That is the most important thing.  Right now I feel anxious, excited, scatter-brained, sad, happy...everything all at once.  I will never be able to fully describe in words what this experience has meant to me.  It has been my life for the past eight months.  Now it's over...and it's time to move on.  More than any other emotion, I feel grateful.  

           

Cinco

The past few days have been filled with good times and amazing friends.  On Thursday evening, we attended our farewell dinner.  This semester's dinner had a completely different feel to it than last semester's.  Last year, there were speeches, tears, hugs, and good-byes.  This year, it was just happy.  We haven't had to actually say good-bye yet, thank goodness.  We still have five days.  One of my closest friends here, Patricia, made up a song to the rhythm of Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A." as a tribute to our experience abroad.  My stomach hurt because I was laughing so hard.  On Friday we were finally able to go paddle-boating on the river.  The weather has really warmed up over the last few days.  A former AIFS student came to visit Salamanca this past week and she was in my boat.  You'll never guess where she was from.  Chicago.  And she used to go to Northern on the weekends to visit friends.  Small, small world.  I spent nearly all of yesterday running around Salamanca participating in a scavenger hunt.  My team didn't win but it was a blast.  Otherwise, my free time has been spent in coffee shops with friends...the usual.  We're all a little nervous for finals and most of us have started to pack up our things.  Today I'll be studying for my Hispanic-American Literature final, updating my Academic Writing Glossary, and attempting to pack.  Packing is proving to be a nearly impossible task.  I'm not saying that I have too much stuff.  In fact, I have less than my two housemates who have only been here for the semester.  What is difficult is that I have to decide what I'm taking with me when I'm traveling with my folks and what I'm leaving in Salamanca to be picked up on the last leg of the journey.  Dios mio.  My parents and I will be visiting six Spanish cities over the following two and a half weeks once the semester ends:  Madrid, Segovia, Barcelona, Valencia, Granada, and of course, Salamanca.  I will have my laptop with me so I'll try to post a few updates while the three of us are out adventure-ing.  And then...home at last.  June 6, 2012.  I write this in nearly every blog post but I'll say it again:  I can't believe how fast the time has gone.  This experience has been everything I had hoped it would be.  Before I close, I want to wish a Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful mom.  I'm so happy to be sharing this experience with you and Dad.  See you soon!  Os echo de menos.  Hasta pronto.   

Inspainity

It is an absolutely gorgeous Spring day.  Not a single cloud is present in the vibrant blue sky.  The breeze is blowing so softly, but enough to keep you cool under the intense sunshine.  Today I finally did something that I've been meaning to do for a while.  In past blog posts, I've mentioned a park in Salamanca called Huerto de Calixto y Melibea.  In this park, there is a water well covered in locks inscribed with names and dates.  It's enchanting.  You can find places like it all over Europe but this one is special to all of us who study here.  Today I took two locks to the park and threw the keys into the well:  One was inscribed with AIFS Fall 2011 and the other with AIFS Spring 2012.  It was sort of sad...it felt like something had ended.  I guess something is ending...all too soon.  Days like today, when Salamanca is blooming and beautiful, make me want to stay.  Days like today make me forget all of my frustrations.  Days like today put everything that is good in the world right in front of my nose so that it is impossible to ignore.  This upcoming week is going to be filled with studying, taking pictures, drinking coffee, packing, and saying good-bye.  I don't know if I'm ready for that last one.  One of the most gratifying things about studying abroad is the bond you build with people.  I have met some of my best friends here.  And I have met people from all over the United States who have voluntarily transplanted themselves all over Europe.  When I was in Prague, I met a group of girls studying abroad in Ireland.  In Barcelona, I met a young woman who was from Argentina but had lived with her parents in Des Moines, Iowa for ten years.  And during my last trip to Paris, I met a guy named Shale who was studying in Rome but lived in Chicago and had friends who went to Northern Illinois University.  If that doesn't tell you that our world is small, I don't know what else could convince you.  We talked about the Cubs, Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, and how amazing our study abroad experiences had been.  Deciding to study, live, or travel abroad is a very personal decision.  In Shale's case, he chose Rome not to learn Italian, but to eat pasta, drink wine, and travel around Europe.  I chose Salamanca to enhance my Spanish, but I got so much more out of it than that.  People go abroad to find themselves, ironically enough.  People go abroad for work, for adventure, for love.  I recently listened to a speech given by a psychologist studying human relationships and vulnerability.  She called herself "a story collector."  She listened to her subject's stories and grew to understand her own.  We are all a part of the great human experiment.  We collect stories...our own and those of others.  No matter where we've grown up, who we've met, and what we've done...we are all here on this tiny particle of cosmic dust called Earth.  We are that small.  But our stories can be as grand as we choose.     

Two Weeks

One week from today, I will be at a local restaurant with all of my friends for our AIFS farewell dinner.  Two weeks from today, I will have finished packing and I will be spending my last night in this room.  How is it possible that time has flown by so quickly?  I am at the end of this wonderful journey...and everyone is pointing it out.  Everyone.  My professors, my host mom, and my friends.  I wish they would stop.  I'm so torn between wanting to be home and wanting to stay here...between starting a completely new journey or continuing this one.  I'm soaking up every possible experience with the people I've grown to love here.  Last night, we were treated to a private flamenco guitar performance.  And after dinner, I went out with my girl friends to have a few drinks and sing karaoke.  For all of you who are asking yourselves, "Did Kristen actually get on stage and sing?!," I can honestly tell you that yes I most certainly did.  Song choice:  Man!  I Feel Like a Woman! by Shania Twain.  And it's true:  The best thing about being a woman is the prerogative to have a little fun, yea.  I was six years old when that song came out and I know I never sang the words correctly until last night.  It was a blast.  In other news, I want congratulate my favorite singer, Neil Diamond, on his recent nuptials to Katie McNeil.  Does anyone else find it funny that her name is now Katie McNeil Diamond?  I do.  And I want to wish my amazing mom a happy birthday.  Mom, I love you so much and I can't wait to see you!  In two short weeks, you and Dad will be arriving in Madrid to start the adventure of a lifetime.  Get those suitcases packed!  Besos.     

Social Media

I am all for days without a smidgen of modern technology.  No computer.  No cell phone.  No television.  Of course, everything we have in our homes is a product made by relatively modern technology.  But you know what I mean.  Those days when you light candles instead of turning on the lights.  Reading a book or the newspaper (real typeface on real paper...a Kindle or a Nook doesn't count) instead of watching a movie or the news.  Writing someone a letter rather than sending them a text message.  Awesome, right?  Nearly impossible nowadays?  Yes.  But social media, like Facebook, Twitter, or Myspace, and other means on communication such as Skype or BBM, connect people around the world.  Without email, Facebook, and Skype, I don't know how I would have survived my year abroad.  I'm not saying that I am constantly "connected."  But it helps knowing that my friends and family are only a click away.  When I'm at home, I relish the days without a single text message.  While I'm here, the most comforting thing is getting a good old-fashioned letter via snail mail:  Hand-written with real stamps, not just a little envelope icon on my email server or cell phone screen.  Lately, I've been poking around online looking for new blogs to read and new documentaries to watch.  These are the social media platforms that I am all gung-ho for.  They open our minds to new ideas and to people we would never connect with otherwise.  For the past two years or so, I have been an avid reader of PostSecret.  This blog began almost a decade ago as a way for people to share secrets anonymously...things they could never say aloud.  Now there are PostSecret books and a world-wide fan base.  My wonderful roommate from last semester, Meredith, introduced me to somewhat of a guilty pleasure blog.  It is called "Dear Girls Above Me."  It's hilarious and gives me a good laugh when I really need one.  Our AIFS Resident Director, Gaye, recently told me about a website:  TED.  They film documentaries called "TED Talks" and post them online.  They host TED events all around the world and share the amazing stories of famous and ordinary people alike.  I just listened to a speech by a man who, after a difficult period in his life, began a blog called "1000 Awesome Things."  It highlights the little pleasures in life that we always take for granted:  Finding money you didn't even know you lost.  A waiter who brings you a free refill without asking.  Hanging your hand out of the car window.  The first bite of food when you are absolutely starving.  I'm really glad that I found that blog today.  Sometimes we are just searching for something to remind us of how "awesome" life is.  So in the spirit of blogging and being in a great mood, here are some of my "not quite 1000 awesome things."

Waking up naturally without an alarm or someone making a ton of noise in the kitchen.  
A drink of water when you are really thirsty.
The sound of rain.
Finishing an essay you have been putting off.
Hitting a homer.
The perfect ratio of margarine and jam on a piece of warm toast.
Bagels.
Being sore after a good workout.
The moment of panic when you see a cop car parked on the side of the highway, and then the realization that there isn't an officer in the car.
A bowl of milk and cereal.
Watching CBS Sunday Morning News with Charles Osgood, sitting on the couch with my folks.
Hearing the trumpet introduction to the above-stated news program.
Finding a bargain.
When you pull up behind someone and they inch their car forward so you have enough room to turn right.
Good coffee.
Laughing so profoundly that no sound comes out of your mouth and tears come to your eyes.
Perfectly-timed channel-flipping.
When the lights go down in a movie theater.
Finally being able to de-shell shrimp with a fork and knife.
Performing as an air band in the car with the windows rolled down all the way.
A person pulls up next to you in their car and starts laughing at the above-stated awesomeness.
Peeling fruit in one strand.
Text messages from friends that ask, "Did you get home safe?"
The first drop on a roller coaster.
Long hugs.
When your favorite song comes on the radio and lasts just long enough for you to pull into the garage and park your car before it ends. 
Singing along to lyrics you didn't even know you knew.
Finally getting the cramp out of your foot.
My Spanish host mom imitating a Chinese accent on the phone and hearing my housemates laugh in the next room over.
A walk to clear my head.
The stupid things my cats do.
The last page of a wonderful book, when you really want to jump ahead to the last line but you don't so that you can savor every word.
The feeling you get when your plane takes off and later lands.
The first step into your house after being away for a long time.

I think that's a good one to end on for now.  I hope this blog post finds you all well and happy.  Wow, I did two blog posts in one day.  Accomplishment?  Yes, but also a way of avoiding my grammar homework.  I'll be seeing you all soon.  Lots of love.

  
 
               

"Time keeps on slippin' slippin' slippin' into the future..."

Yes, I just made a Steve Miller Band reference.  "Fly Like an Eagle" is an awesome song.  But it's really hard for me to write with music playing so...Pause.  Despite the constant rain, this week has been really fun.  I have to keep myself busy to avoid thinking about the time slippin' into the future.  Too much?  Yea.  Anyway, as I mentioned, I have had a lot going on this week.  On Wednesday, AIFS treated us all to a wine tasting at a local bar.  One of Gaye's friends is quite the wine enthusiast and gave us a presentation on three different Spanish wines.  After about five minutes, my entire table was itching to pop the cork.  When it comes to people our age and wine, patience is not a virtue.  We sipped wine, munched on cheese and bread, and watched the Real Madrid-Bayern Munich football game.  Madrid lost, as had FC Barcelona earlier in the week against Chelsea FC.  What a pity.  I can't believe I'm saying this, but I am actually kind of bummed that Spain will not be represented in the Final of the UEFA Champions League.  In fact, I'm shocked that I just wrote all of that.  I was never a big fan of soccer.  I guess that's changed.  Let's move on.  On Thursday, my Academic Writing class was in for a real treat.  Our professor, Carlos, has a lot of connections at the University of Salamanca, having been a student here once himself and now as a distinguished member of the Philology Department.  He was granted permission to visit the old library.  Big deal, right?  No, really big deal.  Normally, when you take a tour of the university, you can only see the old library through a glass wall because the manuscripts that it contains are very delicate.  They don't grant access to just anyone.  We were able to go through the looking glass and discover all that this magnificent room holds.  I'm a book nerd, so it was pretty darn cool.  The University of Salamanca was founded in 1218 and the library is not much younger than that.  The books that are housed in that room are centuries-old, hand-written, and gold-plated.  They are works of art.  Funny story:  If you had the chance to enter the library as we did, you would be able to look into some of the display cases that are difficult to see from the outside.  In one of these, there is a random collection of things found over time in the library:  Ripped out pages, love letters, scribbled notes, and one other very unexpected item.  Hint:  These are still used today by young couples all over the world and are usually kept in a man's billfold, just in case.  For the sake of propriety, I won't say it explicitly.  But put your imaginations to work.  Not only did we have the opportunity to enter the library, we also had time to explore the vault.  Up a narrow staircase and behind a three-foot thick metal door are some of the university's most treasured manuscripts and documents.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance and truly breathtaking.  To stand in that room and imagine someone thumbing through those same books hundreds and hundreds of years ago is an incredible feeling.  There was a catch, though.  I had to write a paper about the experience.  Go figure...the field trip was for my Academic Writing class.  But it was completely worth it.  Lately, I've been trying to spend as much time as possible in the places I love with the people I've become closest to.  But I keep myself open to trying new things with people that I'm not as familiar with.  If someone wants to go to a museum, I go.  If someone asks me to go out for coffee or margaritas, I go.  If someone wants to hang out at the river for the afternoon, I go.  I really appreciate it when people are open to hanging out with whoever, whenever.  This group of students for the spring semester has the ability to mingle with each other and to tear down walls between people.  They have a zest for innocent fun...almost childlike innocence.  I will always be grateful for that because it reminds me to not take myself too seriously and to never take anything for granted.  Last night, several of us went to a performance of the classic opera "Carmen de Bizet," by the Ballet Flamenco de Madrid.  They transformed this opera into a flamenco performance that was beautiful and haunting.  It was one of the coolest things I've done in Salamanca.  Flamenco is really hard to describe.  The music is loud and makes your heart ache.  At times, the voices almost sound like cries.  The dancing is fast, passionate, and incomprehensible.  I have no idea how they move their feet that quickly.  All in all, I would say it was a pretty good week.  If the rain finally stops, we are supposed to be going paddle-boating this week.  Gaye has also arranged a flamenco guitar performance for us.  We have another day off on Tuesday so I'm planning on going to a movie, getting together for an intercambio, and maybe even doing some karaoke during my free time.  I made the mistake of telling a friend (who absolutely loves singing karaoke) that I had never performed karaoke and I don't think I can escape it now.  Oh well.  Hasta pronto.  Os quiero.

Springtime in Salamanca

Lazy Days

Lately, I have been looking for any excuse to be outside and doing things rather than staying inside to study.  I'll call it "leavingspainitis."  Don't get me wrong, all of my classes are going well.  But it's hard to focus when all I want to do is go out for coffee with friends and take walks along the river.  Soon, I won't be able to do that anymore...at least not in Salamanca.  But right alongside the sadness of leaving is the stress of finals, the excitement of having my folks here, the confusion of the new Blogger interface, and the astonishment of almost being a senior at NIU.  Oh my goodness.  I just can't believe everything I've done this year and everything I have ahead of me.  I don't have much else to write about but I didn't want all of you to think that I had disappeared into the abyss.  Tomorrow night AIFS is treating us to a wine tasting and next week we are going paddle-boating on the river.  And then, Kleenex in hand, we will attend our farewell dinner.  Besos y abrazos.    

Lunes de Aguas

I would like to share with all of you a wonderful holiday that is only celebrated in Salamanca.  It is called Lunes de Aguas and takes place eight days after Easter.  This unique holiday originates in the sixteenth century during the reign of King Phillip II, who ordered that all "public women" vacate Salamanca during Lent.  Every year on Ash Wednesday, a priest would escort the prostitutes to the other side of the Tormes River.  Two Mondays after the end of Holy Week and Easter, the prostitutes would be escorted back into the city by the priests and students, a great cause for celebration.  To commemorate this great day, Salmantinos would gather on the banks of the river to eat and drink with their friends.  The tradition continues today despite the long-time absence of these scandalous women.  Yesterday, I made my way down to the river with nearly our entire program to have a picnic.  On one side of the river, there were students drinking to excess at four in the afternoon.  On the other side, I witnessed the family-friendly version:  Parents fondly watching their children play games alongside the river.  Angelita packed us girls a slice of hornazo and an orange to have as a picnic-style dinner on the banks.  Hornazo is a typical dish eaten on Lunes de Agua and consists of pastry-wrapped chorizo and hard-boiled eggs.  You would not believe how many people were having picnics yesterday afternoon.  Salamanca shut down.  The tourist shops, restaurants, and offices closed for the day...even more than during the Christmas season.  It was a blast.   

Paris

Day 1:  Bus to Madrid.  Afternoon flight to Paris.  Day 2:  Notre Dame.  Tour of the Latin Quarter.  Love locks.  Shakespeare and Company book store.  Lunch at a side street cafe.  Climbing the Eiffel Tower.  Authentic French meal of escargot, goat cheese, beef bourguignon, and chocolate tarts.  Moulin Rouge.  Strolling through Montmartre.  Day 3:  The Louvre.  Window-shopping on the Champs Elysees.  French bread and brie cheese for lunch.  Bike ride around Paris.  Boat cruise on the Seine at night.  Croissants and wine.  Day 4:  Munching on macaroons in the Sunday marketplaces.  Luxembourg gardens.  Nutella and banana crepe before taking the metro to Charles de Gaulle.  Flight to Madrid.  Bus to Salamanca.  Who knew you could do so much in so little time?  I have absolutely fallen in love with Paris.  The city is sprawling, overwhelming, and grand.  But it is sweet, charming, and quaint as well.  I still can't believe I was there...it feels so surreal.  If I'm being honest, Paris was never on my bucket list.  After being there, I have no idea why it wasn't.  I will never forget the things I did, the music I heard, or the flavors I tasted there.  I saw things that I never thought I would see...that some people dream of seeing all their lives.  I am a lucky girl.  If someone were to ask me what my favorite city has been, I don't think I could answer.  Paris is pretty high up there:  Behind Salamanca and probably neck and neck with Barcelona.  This past weekend was perfect.  I went to Paris with a tour company called WSA, the same company that hosted my trip to Prague in December.  Our local Parisian guide, Kevi, made sure that each and every one of us was having fun throughout the entire weekend.  Every day was jam-packed but everyone got to see what was most important to them.  Climbing the stairs to the second observation deck of the Eiffel Tower was a huge accomplishment, but I think my favorite part of the weekend was our last night.  I got to ride a cool cruiser bicycle on the streets of Paris for almost two hours.  I was smiling and laughing the whole time.  Standing up on the pedals, riding no-hands across the bridges, waving at the people we passed...so much fun.  It may sound corny, but that was one of the most amazing things I have done in my life.  I can't even begin to describe the feeling of getting to know Paris in that way.  It was invigorating.  It was an experience that makes you realize how much life has to offer.  Afterwards, with a glass of wine in hand, I sailed along the Seine under the glow of the Eiffel Tower at night.  We listened to each other's stories of the places we've studied in and visited.  We took it all in.  At that point, I set my camera aside and took in everything around me.  Pictures cannot capture the charm of those views.  Throughout the entire weekend in Paris, we took the metro and walked for miles.  And everywhere I went, there was music and the smell of freshly baked bread.  At Saint-Lazare, an accordion.  Karaoke on the train.  At Concorde, a violin.  A jazz quartet in the stairwell.  The melodies echoed through the underground passageways and penetrated my soul...it was enchanting.  It sounded just like you think Paris would sound.  Only the squeal of the metro trains interrupted that beautiful music.  I don't know if I will ever make it back to Paris, but I know it will always be a part of me...just like every other place I have been fortunate enough to visit.                    

                    

Semana Santa

Spain takes pride in a rich Catholic history and this fact is most strongly manifested during its Holy Week.  Easter is not commercialized here, as it often is in the United States.  The final days of Christ's life are remembered, mourned, and celebrated in ways that seem so extravagant to many foreigners, myself included.  One of the grandsons at my homestay recently asked me what the Easter celebrations were like where I lived.  I answered honestly, saying that we don't have processions.  As a boy who loves to watch them and will probably participate in several throughout his lifetime, he looked so heartbroken, so confused as to why we wouldn't have religious parades in the United States.  Of course, there are Spaniards who do not practice any form of religion and therefore are not compelled to participate in or watch the processions.  But these traditions are still solemnly respected, especially in Salamanca and Seville.  Millions of tourists visit these two cities during Semana Santa:  The setting is the most beautiful, the brotherhoods are among the largest, and the piety displayed is the most moving.  Throughout this past week, I have seen men, women, and children performing unbelievable acts of penace.  Walking barefoot through the streets, whipping themselves as they walk, dragging chains from their ankles.  It is truly shocking.  During the processions, floats called "pasos" displaying religious relics are paraded throughout the city.  The floats are carried on the shoulders of members of the brotherhoods, called "costaleros."  Each member supports an average of 110 pounds and some of the processions last for hours.  I am not exaggerating.  The members must take perfect synchronized steps, often to the rhythm of a drum or a marching band, to avoid tipping the floats.  The spectacle is mesmerizing, whether you are religious or not.  However, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, it rained in Spain last week.  Yes, it rained in Spain, mainly on the plains.  We needed the water badly but many of the processions were cancelled for fear of ruining the relics.  But the few that I saw were amazing...

I will be leaving for Paris on Thursday and will update my blog when I get back to Salamanca.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend.  Quick side note:  After months and months of writing this blog, checking my spelling, and posting pictures, it has just now occurred to me that my blog address contains a typo.  So please excuse my error, faithful www.mainlyontheplaines.blogspot.com readers.  The word plains does not contain an e.  Hasta pronto.                  

You say coffee. I say café. You say sugar. I say azúcar. Coffee. Café. Sugar. Azúcar. Let's call the whole thing off.

I am really going to miss café con leche.  Now, you may be thinking to yourselves, "What is so special about coffee with milk?"  The most comparable drink we have in the States would be an espresso macchiato with two percent milk and sugar.  It is divine...the perfect drink to take away the chill that the recent rains have brought to Salamanca.  But it's not just the coffee.  It is the atmosphere.  Today I tried out a new place instead of my usual go-to coffee joint.  I don't even know the name of it.  But that doesn't matter because they serve a delicious, steaming, larger-than-normal cup of café con leche for one euro.  The service is friendly.  The music selection is perfect.  The Art Nouveau advertisements covering the bright red walls are a visual feast.  All in all, it is a quaint, underground, off-the-beaten-trail kind of place.  Bob Dylan and Billy Joel playing in the background...A good cup of joe...What could be better on a rainy day?  The answer is blowin' in the wind.              

Happy April!

Good morning, everyone!  Or afternoon...Or evening...Or at whatever time of day this blog post finds you.  Yesterday, AIFS invaded Segovia.  Since the first time I saw that city, I've said that it is one of my favorites in Spain.  The narrow streets, the castle, the hidden fountains...it's like being in a fairy tale.  We spent a wonderful afternoon sitting in the sun alongside the aqueduct and later meandering through the gardens of La Granja a few kilometers outside of the city.  It was the perfect way to end a busy week.  And now it is already April!  Holy Week begins today and I plan to watch a few of the processions that wind through the city.  Salamanca is famous for its Semana Santa celebrations.  The parades make their way through the narrow streets of this Renaissance city in solemn quietude.  Being Palm Sunday, there will be several processions leaving from various churches all around Salamanca.  Also, on Palm Sunday it is a tradition to wear something you have recently purchased, whether that be a simple pair of socks or a completely new ensemble.  I'll write a more in-depth post about Salamanca's Semana Santa traditions later this week.  Onto another subject...I don't have very many weeks left here.  I know that they are going to pass so quickly.  Studying abroad was something that I had wanted to do for years, something that I planned for over the course of several months, something that I put countless hours of effort towards....and now I'm down to weeks.  After all of the time I have put towards this amazing experience, I've been wondering lately what my next big goal will be.  I have so many things that I want to do...things to cross off of my bucket list.  Graduation from Northern and graduate school acceptance are a couple of pretty obvious goals.  It is hard to describe, but after being in Europe on my own for a while I feel more capable of accomplishing those goals.  I can't help but get excited about new opportunities and ideas now.  A few months ago, they would have scared me a bit.  I'm not talking about a huge self-transformation.  I'm just talking about having a good feeling inside of myself.  I know that sounds cheesy but so be it.  Hasta pronto.  Tened fe en vosotros.

 

                      

Pensamientos de Portugal

Usually when I start to write a blog post, I have a clear idea of what to say.  Not always, but most of the time.  Today I don't know where to start.  Maybe it's because I have come to the realization that my time here is dwindling away.  Or maybe the reason is that I have so much to do this week and all my thoughts are buzzing around in my mind.  Or maybe it's everything.  I had an intercambio today and we got on the subject of the cost of school, the pressure to find a stable job, and the daunting task of paying everything back.  It's overwhelming.  But all of that makes me recognize how important my time abroad is.  These are the days to bask in the sunlight, be a little selfish, and figure out what is important in life.  That is why I'm so grateful for the trips I get to take.  I am able to see another part of the world and expand my understanding even more.  Each trip that I've taken has presented something unique to me.  The people, the beauty, the food, the experience.  Everything forms an impression.  This past weekend, Portugal made a lasting impression as well.  But it wasn't just the about the places we visited or the tours we took.  There was something more.  I got to know some of my fellow AIFS-ers while we watched the sunset on a beach in Nazare.  We gorged ourselves on delicious grilled cod.  I stepped in the ocean for the first time.  It was an amazing weekend...one that would be impossible to recreate.  I could go back to all of the same cities and pueblos but what made this past weekend special was the group of people I shared it with and the simplicity of it all.  No one went out to the clubs in Lisbon.  Instead, we all went to see "The Hunger Games."  There was no need to be constantly occupied throughout the day.  All we wanted to do was watch the tide roll in and talk to each other.  Rather than sleeping on the six-hour bus ride home, we played games and laughed until our stomachs ached.  Yes, I visited Fatima, Belem, Nazare, Lisbon, and Cascais.  And while I appreciate the things that we saw in those cities, what I'll remember most about this weekend is how much fun I had.  

Now that I'm back in Salamanca, I have a lot of things to do.  I am looking forward to going to Segovia on Saturday.  But between now and then, I have to write a paper for Academic Writing about Spanish traditions, study for and take an exam on Latin-American Literature, and plan out my senior year class schedule.  At least I have the memory of the ocean and sand to get me through this week.  Os quiero.  Hasta pronto.                  

Just a little update...

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Saint Patrick's Day.  A lot of my friends are in Ireland this weekend celebrating the holiday and even the Salmantinos have taken up the tradition.  Last night, the main facade of the Plaza was lit up with green lights instead of the standard golden hue.  Unfortunately, I didn't get to see it in person as I was in bed most of yesterday with a headache...something that has become much too common for my liking.  But I am feeling a lot better today.  I just got back from our local flea market, el Rastro.  My friend Alex and I walked to the outskirts of the city in search of cheap scarves, shoes, and tights.  Luck was on our side today.  I found a cute pair of shoes and Alex found knock-off Ray-Ban sunglasses.  You really have to be in the mood to go to the flea market...digging through the clothes, people yelling constantly, price-haggling in multiple languages.  I have a couple of Skype dates set up for this afternoon so until then I am just going to finish this blog post, eat lunch, and study a little bit.  I have two midterms on Tuesday:  Grammar and Translation.  I'm not overly nervous for them but it's nice that we have tomorrow off so I can study more.  Tomorrow is Father's Day in Spain so I would like to wish my dad, "Feliz Día del Padre."  On Friday, I will be on my way to Portugal with my program.  I am so excited for this trip and I can't believe it's already here.  We will be stopping in a lot of cities and smaller towns on the way to the capital, Lisbon.  I've heard that Portugal is a beautiful country.  I'll post pictures and an updated blog when we get back.  This past week, I have been working on a contribution for our Spring 2012 memory book.  I will probably submit it to the AIFS website as well, like I did last semester.  What follows is just the rough draft but let me know what you think!  Besos.

La Plaza Mayor.  El Puente Romano.  La Catedral Nueva y La Catedral Vieja.  La Universidad de Salamanca.  La Clerecía.  El Huerto de Calixto y Melibea.  El Río Tormes.  La Chupitería.  You can be sure that all of these places will be highlighted in your travel books.  Yes, even the local chupitos bar.  But there is so much more to this city.  It is a place full of life and full of peace.  What you find depends on what you’re looking for.  If you want to study in a great university, you can.  If you want to go out every weekend, or every night for that matter, you can.  If you want to learn Spanish, believe me, you will.  If you want a quiet spot to think, you will find that too. 

I have been fortunate enough to have almost eight full months in this beautiful place.  At the beginning, last September, everything in Salamanca was new and exciting.  Every single day presented a new adventure to take on, a new place to discover, and a new ice cream flavor to try.  Now, as I near the end of this life-changing experience, things have become comfortable and normal.  I have done everything you should do in Salamanca, I have found my favorite spots, and I have tried nearly every flavor of ice cream at Café Novelty.  This blooming metropolis has become more than just a tourist destination for me.  It feels like home.  I enjoy finding the hidden cafés with the best coffee.  I would rather stroll along the river where there are less people.  I love to sit on top of the wall in my favorite park and watch the city below.  It still takes my breath away…just how beautiful it is here.

Even more than the beauty of the city, I know I will miss the people I have met here.  During the fall semester, I met some of my closest friends.  I feel like I will always identify more with my first semester in Spain…all of us started this insane adventure together.  But the people I have met this spring remind me of how important it is to look at things with fresh eyes.  And for that, I am extremely grateful.  The new friends I have made encourage me to rediscover the beauty of Salamanca that I sometimes take for granted.  I have an incredible support system here that includes my friends, both International and American, our program directors, and my Spanish host family.  It is amazing to me that my host parents open their home to students semester after semester.  It must get exhausting.  But this family has given me so many things:  an opportunity to learn Spanish in the most effective way possible, delicious food, comforting words when I need them most, and a home away from home.  That last one, a home, is invaluable to me.  It was hard for me to leave the States and my folks.  I had never done anything like this in my life.  Heck, I had never left the country.  I am incredibly close to my parents and I know that for them as well, it is comforting to know that I live with such wonderful people.          

There is no way to know how it will feel to leave.  Honestly, I’d rather not think about it.  Last semester, I was excited to go home and see my family because I knew that I would be coming back in a few short weeks.  Everything will be different this time.  But I know that someday I will come back to Spain.  Who knows…maybe I’ll bike the Northern route of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in the future.  For now, I want to take advantage of every moment I have here.  I owe this place so much.  Who I am now is a direct result of the experiences I’ve had, the people I’ve met, and the love I’ve found for Salamanca.  It’s a rare joy to have the opportunity to study abroad.  It was a decision that, to this day, I’m shocked I had the guts to make.  But here I am...and here a part of me will always be.  Ten fe en ti.                      

La Plaza Mayor

What comes to mind...?

...sunbathing.
...sitting on the ground.
...elderly couples strolling arm in arm.
...a beer, a cup of expensive coffee, an ice cream.
...laughter.
...singing.
...drunken dancing.
...the sound of an acoustic guitar.
...spontaneous four-piece orchestra performances.
...dogs.
...little kids chasing the dogs.
...rallies and protests.
...bachelor parties.
...weddings.
...a meeting place.
...newspaper stands.
...tourists.
...more tourists.
...students looking over notes from class.
...cigarette smoke.
...friends.
...iconic.
...Baroque.
...golden.
...the city center.
...masses of people at 8:00 in the evening.
...wasting time.
...not a care in the world.
...the smell of freshly brewed espresso.
...concerts.
...Nochevieja Universitaria.
...illumination.
...contemplation.
...Salamanca.

Intercambios

Last semester, Julia and I met two Spanish girls who are studying English at the University of Salamanca.  We all got together for coffee a few times in the Fall and we've developed a strong friendship over the past few months.  Now this semester, we meet for coffee every Monday to practice speaking.  An intercambio is an exchange of languages.  When the four of us get together, we alternate speaking in English and Spanish.  Some days the entire conversation is in one language and other days it is more of a combination of both.  We talk about anything...movies, celebrities, our families, places we have traveled to.  We even help eachother with our homework from time to time.  Last week I asked one of the girls, "How do you think your English is?"  She laughed and said that she thought is was terrible compared to how Julia and I speak Spanish.  I laughed at that because Julia and I feel the same, but in reverse.  We feel like Marisa and Antziñe speak English much better than we speak Spanish.  As I walked home today after our coffee date, I was thinking about how curious the world is.  Somehow, the four of us have gotten to be good friends despite living in two countries so far apart.  But the things we talk about are the same topics I discuss with my girl friends at home.  We all ended up in Salamanca...and I'm so glad that we did.  Julia is from Alaska.  I live in the Midwest.  Marisa is half Thai and half Spanish.  Antziñe is from País Vasco.  But we're all here now...funny how things work out.       

Movie, Mountains, Mexican, and Margaritas

There has been a lot going on in Salamanca this weekend.  So many people are visiting the city and the locals are coming out of their winter hibernation.  The Plaza has been filled every day with people sipping coffee, savoring ice cream, and soaking up the sunshine.  Friday evening, I went to see the movie Hugo with a few friends.  At 1:00 am, when we were walking home, the streets were still filled with people.  The weather has been absolutely beautiful for the past few days so four of us girls decided to take the bus to a nearby town and go hiking for the day.  We packed ourselves some sandwiches and headed for the mountains.  It felt wonderful to be outside surrounded by the trees and creeks.  We hiked for nearly four hours and then took the bus back to Salamanca.  After getting myself cleaned up, I had a date for dinner last night with some friends from my program.  There is a great little Mexican restaurant right outside the Plaza Mayor with cheap food and delicious margaritas.  I enjoyed being out with some new people.  Sometimes a change of pace is all you need to brighten your mood.  It has been a great weekend.  

     

El Tiempo Vuela

Time flies.  Someone should count how many times I've said that in all of my blog posts.  It is Monday, March 5th, 2012.  7:59 PM as I started to type.  This past weekend, I spent nearly an entire afternoon looking over my transcripts from Northern...all of the classes I have taken, the grades I have earned, the classes I have yet to take.  All of that brought me to a very small number:  Twelve.  Just twelve.  Side note:  Twelve is a weird word...twelve.  Anyway, you may be asking yourself, "Twelve what?"  Twelve classes left, my friends, until I have completed my undergraduate career with majors in Psychology and Spanish and with University Honors.  Holy crap!  I could hardly believe it.  I feel like I was just a freshman last week and now I'm almost a senior at NIU.  Graduate school is on the horizon.  I arrived in Spain six months ago.  It feels like a lifetime.  I mean that in the best sense.  I have experienced so many things over the past several months.  Sometimes I feel like I've changed and sometimes I feel the same.  My heart is always at home...with my folks, the rest of my family, my friends.  But a little sliver of my soul will always be here, in Salamanca.  I turn twenty-one this month.  Three weeks from tomorrow...not like I'm counting down or anything.  Look who is wearing the big girl pants now!  Gosh.  This blog post is just a written account of everything I've been thinking the past few days.  It serves as a reminder that once time is gone, it can't be retrieved.  So spend that time wisely.  Take everything day by day, minute by minute, step by step.  Don't think too much...you'll create problems that didn't exist in the first place.  I've been trying to tell myself that lately.  Well, it is now 8:26 PM as I close this post.  Os quiero y nos veremos pronto.  I love you all and we will see each other soon.     

Valladolid

Who knew that so many things could go wrong in a single day?  I should clarify:  My day trip to Valladolid was fun...it just didn't go exactly as planned.  But with every unfortunate thing that happened, there was a silver lining.  My good friend Julia got really sick this past week and as a result wasn't able to go with me on Friday.  However one of her roommates, Mary Kate, wasn't doing anything this weekend so she went with me instead.  Lucky break number one.  When we got to the train station in Salamanca, a forty minute walk from my house, I realized that I had forgotten to bring any type of documentation or identification with me.  Fortunately, I didn't need it to board the train.  Lucky break number two.  Once we were in Valladolid, everything went fine.  Mary Kate and I took our time strolling throughout the city, visiting the Museo Nacional de Escultura and the Iglesia de San Pablo.  Honestly, there wasn't very much to do in the city.  But it was nice to have a change of scenery for the day, "cambia de aires" as we say in Spanish.  The day was very relaxing and we had perfect weather during most of the day.  Around 5:30 in the afternoon things started to change.  The wind picked up, the sky grew cloudy, and we rushed to find a cafe before it started down pouring.  I should mention that it hasn't rained in Castilla y León in over a month.  So, the two of us ordered some coffee and talked until we needed to go catch our train.  It was nice getting to know Mary Kate.  I feel like it's still hard to get to know the people who are new this semester so I was grateful for having that time.  Lucky break number three.  Since the temperature had dropped so much and the weather had turned sour, we were both eager to get on our train going home.  However, this eagerness led us to board the wrong train.  Our train was scheduled to leave at 7:55 from platform 3.  We boarded the train that left at 7:50 from platform 3.  I was just sick with myself...I don't know how I made that mistake.  There were so many signs that we were on the wrong train:  Two people were sitting in our seats, a woman asked us if we were on the wrong train...goodness gracious.  But we were not the only ones.  Three other people did the exact same thing.  Lucky break number four.  So the five of us got off of the incorrect train at the next stop, Venta de Baños (which translates to "bathroom sales," another bad sign).  We boarded a train that went to Medina del Campo and from there boarded a train to Salamanca.  Almost two hours later, we were home.  Again we were fortunate because the ticket-taker in the train was very friendly and didn't charge us for another ticket.  Lucky break number five.  I honestly can't believe all of that happened within the span of one day.  As I said, Friday was the definition of a silver lining.  The woman in the tourist office in Valladolid told me that I spoke Spanish very well and had a good accent.  That was put to the test last night as we tried to navigate the rail system with three Spaniards who didn't speak a drop of English.  Live and learn, I guess.  At least I have another funny story to tell in addition to my camel catastrophe in Morocco and my boyfriend in the Czech Republic.  I hope you are all laughing or at least shaking your heads...because that's what I'm doing as I type.  I'm very happy to be back in Salamanca and not stuck in the middle of rural Spain.  I love you all and I'll be writing again soon.  Besos.

Highlight of the day:  Peacocks in the park.